Rechargeable batteries and methods of making same

Abstract

Systems and methods for rechargeable batteries are provided. In an embodiment, a battery may include a cathode, an anode, an electrolyte solution, and a current collector. The anode may include a 3D porous structure. The 3D porous structure may have a higher electrical conductivity at one end than at the other end, and lithium ions may be dispersed throughout the 3D porous structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An anode, comprising:
 an electrically conductive first layer comprising:
 a porous, three dimensional structure having a first end and a second end; 
 a polymer; and 
 particles comprising at least one of carbon and metal, said particles comprising a subset of particles, said subset having a high electrical conductivity that are distributed at a higher concentration toward the first end than the second end; and 
 
 a second layer comprising a lithium metal, wherein the second layer is coupled to the first end of the first layer; 
 wherein the particles satisfy at least one of the following (a) and (b):
 (a) the particles comprise at least one of copper and nickel, and are surface coated with at least one of tin, zinc, argon, bismuth, indium, gallium, aluminum, nitrogen, phosphorous, silicon, and germanium; and 
 (b) the particles are doped with at least one of tin, zinc, argon, bismuth, indium, gallium, aluminum, nitrogen, phosphorous, silicon, and germanium. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The anode of  claim 1 , wherein the second end is configured to couple with a separator and an electrolyte solution. 
     
     
       3. The anode of  claim 1 , further comprising a metal current collector, wherein the current collector comprises at least one of copper, nickel, and stainless steel. 
     
     
       4. The anode of  claim 2 , further comprising a metal current collector, wherein the current collector comprises at least one of copper, nickel, and stainless steel. 
     
     
       5. The anode of  claim 4 , wherein the second layer comprises pure metallic lithium. 
     
     
       6. The anode of  claim 2 , wherein the first layer comprises a porosity between 60 and 90 percent. 
     
     
       7. The anode of  claim 1 , further comprising a third layer, the third layer being a metal current collector comprising at least one of copper, nickel, and stainless steel, and wherein the third layer is coupled to the second layer. 
     
     
       8. A battery, comprising:
 an anode, comprising:
 an electrically conductive first layer comprising:
 a porous, three-dimensional structure having a first end and a second end;
 a polymer; and 
 particles comprising at least one of carbon and metal, said particles comprising a subset of particles, said subset having a high electrical conductivity that are distributed at a higher concentration toward the first end than the second end; and 
 
 
 a second layer comprising lithium metal, wherein the second layer is coupled to the first end of the first layer 
 wherein the particles satisfy at least one of the following (a) and (b): 
 (a) the particles comprise at least one of copper and nickel, and are surface coated with at least one of tin, zinc, argon, bismuth, indium, gallium, aluminum, nitrogen, phosphorous, silicon, and germanium; and 
 (b) the particles are doped with at least one of tin, zinc, argon, bismuth, indium, gallium, aluminum, nitrogen, phosphorous, silicon, and germanium. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The battery of  claim 8 , further comprising a metal current collector coupled to the second layer of the anode, wherein the current collector comprises at least one of copper, nickel, and stainless steel. 
     
     
       10. The battery of  claim 8 , further comprising a third layer of metal current collector coupled to the second layer of the anode, wherein the current collector comprises at least one of copper, nickel, and stainless steel. 
     
     
       11. The battery of  claim 8 , wherein the second layer of the anode comprises pure metallic lithium. 
     
     
       12. The battery of  claim 8 , wherein the first layer of the anode comprises a porosity between 60 percent and 90 percent. 
     
     
       13. The battery of  claim 8 , wherein the anode is further comprised of a third layer, the third layer being a metal current collector coupled to the second layer, and wherein the current collector comprises at least one of copper, nickel, and stainless steel.